HELP: Problem Using Multiple 580ex's with Off Camera Cable

[Michael Pancier]

I wonder if anyone's noticed this. I was trying to do a two flash set up with the master connected to the off camera shoe which was connected to the camera, and a slave flash wirelessly.

I tried to access the wireless flash menu controls in the 50d and they were disabled. However, if I attach the 580ex II directly to the camera, then the menu options work.

The main flash works fine on the off camera shoe cable, but I would have to set the ratios etc. from the flash units rather than the camera which is my preference.

Any reason why this would happen? My cable is the canon cable. I used 580ex II as main and 580ex I as slave.

[David Kennedy]

I wasn't even aware you could set up the flash from the camera when it's connected....at least, you definitely can't do much with the old 550's which are what I have.

I would just live with the limitation of dialing it all in on the back of the flash...

And don't even get me started on how it's impossible to make second curtain sync happen wirelessly when even the lowly Nikon D70 can do it..............

[Greg Basco]

Michael, I think David might be right. I don't think that one can set wireless flash settings on the 50D or any other Canon body for that matter. I would be interested to know, however, if that is not the case.

Cheers,
Greg Basco

[Michael Pancier]

Michael, I think David might be right. I don't think that one can set wireless flash settings on the 50D or any other Canon body for that matter. I would be interested to know, however, if that is not the case.

Cheers,
Greg Basco

You can do it on the 50d, but only with the flash directly on the hot shoe. You then go into the menu and it gives you full options for flash control. from inside the camera you can set the flash exposure compensation and then it has a menu option for wireless flash which if you activate it, you can adjust the flash ratios in camera. I was not able to do it when the flash was hooked up via the off camera shoe though. Try it. I used the 580ex I and 580 ex II

[Greg Basco]

Hi, Michael. Thanks very much for this info. I don't have a 50D myself but a friend has one so I definitely will check this out as I do a lot of multi-flash stuff here in the rainforest. It is indeed strange that this doesn't work with the off-camera cord...

Cheers,
Greg

[Doug Brown]

I believe this feature appeared first in the Mark III when combined with the 580EX II. Those functions have been extended to the 50D and the 430EX II.

[Jason Franke]

Woah, learn something every day. Never new I could do the wireless control stuff in the back of the camera, that's way easier than futzing with buttons on the flash, I think.

Michael, try cleaning the contacts on the your cable. I have had my cameras throw "flash is not connected" errors in the past when trying to edit flash custom functions from the camera. Removing the flash, rubbing the contacts and re-seating it always did the trick. I just tested on my 40D and Mk3, and I have no problem accessing all the options and controling the flash from the OC-E3 cord, so it shouldn't be a limitation of the cord.

[Greg Basco]

Indeed, Jason. Always good to learn things here. Thanks for the info, Doug. Hopefully Jason's suggestion will help Michael out.

Cheers,
Greg

[Michael Pancier]

Woah, learn something every day. Never new I could do the wireless control stuff in the back of the camera, that's way easier than futzing with buttons on the flash, I think.

Michael, try cleaning the contacts on the your cable. I have had my cameras throw "flash is not connected" errors in the past when trying to edit flash custom functions from the camera. Removing the flash, rubbing the contacts and re-seating it always did the trick. I just tested on my 40D and Mk3, and I have no problem accessing all the options and controling the flash from the OC-E3 cord, so it shouldn't be a limitation of the cord.

I'm gonna try that. Didn't think of the most obvious possible solution. Weird that the flash works fine with the cord, but the camera could not access those functions.